It is with immense sadness and regret that we inform you that Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) will commence a wind down programme from 11th November 2025.
This process is expected to take 28 days to allow time for alternative placements to be found for residential clients at our Care and Rehabilitation Centre, and to honour commitments to other clients to the best extent possible.
At the end of this period, QEF intends to file for administration.
We have worked tirelessly over the last year to try and save the charity, exploring numerous options to improve its finances, but unfortunately there wasn’t a viable solution that met all the necessary requirements to overcome the challenging financial situation QEF faced.
It has been our privilege to support disabled people for over 90 years, providing expert services that have changed many lives, and we are deeply saddened that it cannot continue.
Our priorities right now are to work with funding bodies to ensure clients find suitable alternative placements and to support our remarkable staff during this difficult time.
Travelling by air opens-up a world of possibilities and a range of practical challenges for many disabled travellers. QEF’s Accessible Aviation team support people considering flight who need practical help and advice including flight video guides, as well as advising the aviation and healthcare sectors to improve their understanding of disabled passenger’s requirements.

Air travel can be a daunting prospect for some disabled people, as its a very difficult environment to test and try out before committing money to a flight. Our aims are to enable disabled people to make informed choices about flying, give people confidence by trying out the seating and transfer equipment available in an aircraft in a realistic and supported environment and advise people on the steps they can take before booking a flight to ensure the support they need is available.
Appointments have been divided into consultations, to discuss your requirements through each step of the process of flying, and assessments, to provide clinical opinion on managing the cabin environment. You may decide that you wish to book one or other of these appointments, or both. Regardless, please complete the application form to book your appointment.
In partnership with the UK civil aviation authority we have produced a series of films that give wheelchair users, especially powered wheelchair users, information and insights about travelling by air and the support available.
Our film ‘Flying as a Powered Wheelchair User’ shows a complete journey by air from preparation and arrival at the airport, through to boarding, seating and disembarking the aircraft, so you can prepare and feel confident about the flight.
We also have 4 shorter films that support people to fly with a hidden disability, particularly dementia, autism, a stoma and aphasia”.
If you would prefer, you can contact the team via telephone on 0208 770 1151